DePauw University was fortunate enough to be named by the state of Indiana as a distribution site for the Johnson and Johnson vaccine, and on April 2, 2021, over 1,800 people (DePauw students and community members) received their one-shot vaccine and are on their way to being fully vaccinated by the end of the month. The clinic was totally booked, every appointment grabbed up by an eager patient, and vaccinations were meted out for nearly twelve full hours. The energy on campus and in the vaccination center was unique–– it was high, but the mood was also somber, almost deferential to the magnitude of COVID-19 and the means by which it has affected the life of every person. After over a year of lockdowns, quarantines, uncomfortable COVID PCR tests, school closings, and social distancing, there is finally a light at the end of the tunnel, illuminating the possibility of full stadiums, concerts, parties, shopping without the concern of getting sick, and hugging your friends and family without fear. I think I speak for many students when I say I have never looked forward to having in-person classes more than I am now. Life is on its way to getting “back to normal”–– whatever that means at this point–– but not if you are unvaccinated.
In terms of pain related to other vaccinations such as the flu shot or meningitis vaccine, the Johnson and Johnson shot was not all that painful–– just a quick pinch for months of protection. As a precaution to make sure there are no immediate adverse reactions, I had to wait for fifteen minutes in a recovery area. As I expected, I did not have an allergic reaction, and frankly, I did not see anyone around me experience any scary effects, either. As I made my way back to my little dorm room, I reflected on the past year. Receiving the vaccine was a surreal experience. It was both emotionally draining and uplifting, but almost a week later, I still feel so fortunate to have received a vaccine.
The first side effect I noticed was a sore arm and some redness around the injection site. My right bicep felt sore and slightly tender to the touch, but it was not all that noticeable for the first few hours. I went about my day just fine in regards to arm pain, even attending tennis practice with minimal discomfort. Around five hours after the injection, I began to develop a moderate headache that settled behind my eyes and still has not fully dissipated, although I am confident it is on its way out. I was one of the volunteers at the vaccination clinic, and it was so wonderful to check in the many excited, albeit nervous, patients before their injections. People told me about their reasons for their vaccinations, and it ranged from individuals wanting to protect their families, themselves, and their community, to some, simply wanting life to return to normal as quickly as possible. With each individual I registered, I, too, could not help but think that we were getting one person closer to normalcy.
After I completed my volunteering hours, I noticed that my headache had worsened as well as my arm pain, and I developed chills and nausea–– although by this point I did not have a fever. Vaccine side effects are more common in young patients simply because our immune systems are stronger, however, most side effects are mild and last a very short time. As the night progressed, my chills worsened, and I developed extremely achy muscles and joints. I was advised by the nurse who gave me my injection to keep Tylenol on hand and take it if I began feeling ill. The Tylenol helped, although it did not last as long as I needed it to. When I went to bed that night, I felt as though I had a mild flu, which is a small price to pay for COVID-19 protection.
The next morning I woke up feeling somewhat worse. I still had the headache, body aches, and joint pain, but I also developed a fever of 101.6. I spent the day lying in bed reading and sleeping (I think I slept a total of 14 hours), but the rest seemed to do the trick and I was feeling pretty much normal by that afternoon. Not everyone experiences side effects, and just because I had them by no means you will, and the effects I did have were very mild, just a minor inconvenience for roughly 24 hours. I encourage you to get vaccinated as soon as you are able because despite the potential for side effects, knowing you have protection is a huge weight off of your shoulders.